by Rose Verde
“Amy, I don't know what to say to you. I longed all my days to see you return home even if not to stay but to see me as a father who loves you and for you to see this place as home. I regret all the years we lost but I only hope you'll find it in your heart to forgive me. No one regretted your mother's death more than I. As much as I wished, I couldn't change all that has happened. I give you this whole ranch to do with as you wish.”
Nevada looked at her and his heart fell to his toes. To do as she wished?
She was crying. Maybe guilt, maybe remorse over all her father had to say.
“On one condition,” the man said, and Nevada’s head snapped back to the lawyer. “I know you wouldn't hesitate to sell off the ranch, so I'm attaching a condition to your inheritance.”
Even the man didn't seem in a hurry to impart the condition. Amy came out of her seat as though it had burned her.
“You can only inherit the land if you live here for at least three months. Nevada will manage the ranch in the interim. If in that course of time, you choose not to stay, then the ranch can be auctioned and the money given to charity.”
His gaze darted between the two other people and then to Amy. Her eyes were closed, but tears slipped out.
Mr. Roberts went through the rest of the will and then packed his bag. “I'd best be going. I’m travelling.”
The necessary pleasantries were said and Sam, knowing they needed to figure out this new cog in the wheel of their truce, gave him a pointed look.
“I'll see the gentleman off.”
Nevada scooted closer. “Amy, I had no idea...”
A bitter smile crossed her lips and she nodded. “You deserve it more than I.”
She rose swiftly.
Nevada grabbed her wrist. “Amy, wait.”
She kept her back to him. “I’ve got nothing to say, Nevada. I hate this place. I hate ties. They imprison...”
Her voice shook. The soft scent of her perfume assailed his senses and before he could think it through, he pulled her closer. Her eyes lit with surprise. “Ties are what you make of them, Amy.”
She shook her head. “I couldn’t possibly hang around for three months. What do I know to do here? My life is in LA.”
“Don’t make any decisions right away.”
She gave a bitter laugh. “My dad already made the decision. It’s either I do one or the other. No middle ground.”
Nevada sighed. “I get your point.” He brushed a strand of hair from her face. Before he could think it through, he leaned down, brushing his lips against hers. She closed the distance between them and Nevada captured her lips.
Amy sagged against him, her hands tangling in his hair as she returned his kiss. After a moment, he broke the contact.
She closed her eyes and leaned into him. Nevada held her close. “Maybe you could call your boss.”
“And say what?” Amy pushed away and dropped into the seat she’d vacated.
“Tell him what the will says.”
She shook her head. “Nevada, um, this thing between us can’t work.”
“I get that.” He ignored the flash of pain. “I mean, what would a city girl want with a horse-cattle-smelly ranch hand?”
She didn’t say anything. What possessed him in the first place?
He walked out of the house. Ignoring Sam who sat on the porch swing, Nevada strode to the truck. He banged the door and cranked the ignition. Pressing down on the gas he roared out of the ranch.
He drove on for a few minutes allowing the rush of air to clear his head. He plowed his hand through his hair calling himself all manner of names. What was he thinking?
Minutes later, he drove into the parking lot of Stacy's Diner and killed the engine. His head was clearer. A number of cowboys occupied several tables. The rush hour was over and there were fewer customers. He nodded in their general direction and took a seat. He wasn’t sure why he came yet.
“Nevada, it's been a while.” He turned and dragged some air through his lungs summoning a smile for Stacy. “Yeah, been busy. How's work?”
“Great, what’ll you have?”
“Two cups of latte, special. Where’s Nina?”
“She called in sick. Be right up.”
A few minutes later, steaming Styrofoam cups in both hands and a small bow to Stacy, he stepped out of the diner and into the truck.
Chapter Nineteen
ANGEL FOLLOWED NEVADA as they walked from room to room. He was buying time. After making a complete tour of the cabins, he ran out of reasons to stall.
“We've toured these buildings times without number, what gives?”
Nevada picked up one of the cups and handed it over to his friend.
“Talk to me, what's with the face? You’re practically moping.”
Nevada plunked down on the bed in the room they were in and motioned his friend to sit.
“Was the will reading that bad? I've not seen you in this state in a long while.”
“It went well.” At his friend's raised brow, he went on to explain. “He left the ranch to Amy quite all right but gave her a condition.”
“Is that so bad? You look like you lost someone dear.”
Nevada took a swig and grimaced as the hot drink scalded his tongue. His eyes stung which had less to do with the pain than the confession he was about to make.
“The condition was that she stay here for at least three months with me in charge.” His gaze was intent on his drink.
“Okay,” Angel drew out. “It's not such a bad idea, you know.”
A sad smile tugged at his mouth, the first he had allowed since he walked out of the den. “I guess you'll tell that to Amy.” He met his friend's gaze.
“She doesn't want to? Is that what she said?”
“She’s made it clear she hates this place.”
Angel chuckled softly.
“You think it's funny?”
“What did you say in response?”
“I kissed her,” he said making a helpless gesture. “But then she said the thing between us couldn’t work.”
“I didn’t know the two of you had something going on.”
Nevada grimaced. Restless, he stood and paced from one end of the rectangular room to the other.
Angel chuckled again, the rumble filling the room.
“Did I make a mistake telling you my tale of woe?”
Angel seemed to recover then and he came to stand beside Nevada, a hand on his shoulder.
“No, except that I' yet to see two people who are so stubborn like the two of you.” He got serious. “You should talk about it. If you meant it when you kissed her, maybe it would have made some difference.”
“I meant it.” The first time he was admitting in so many words that he felt something for Amy.
“Then, talk to her.”
What would he do without this man? Their gazes locked for a brief moment and they shared a hug. He knew what he must do.
HOW COULD SHE BLAME her father for using the only means he knew to safeguard the ranch?
She was going to lose her job if she asked for three months off. That was crazy.
Dad, what were you thinking?
Alone with only her thoughts for company last night, she’d known misery in no small measure. Stay and lose her job, go, and lose the ranch. Did her dad intend to force her hand? Whatever choice she made, none would come easy.
Her thoughts strayed to Nevada. He misunderstood her, or maybe she didn’t pass the message across clearly. If she chose to leave, what happened to their relationship? She liked him, a lot. She wanted to stay back, to stay with him. But her life wasn’t here. And that was what she wanted to tell him. What had he said about ties? Did he mean her ties with him could be worth her while? Yeah, he was attracted to her but he never said he loved her.
Give him a break, she chided.
“Diaz said to tell you to give him a call when you’re ready.”
Amy didn't look at Sam. “I'll be out in a bit.”
&
nbsp; The absence of footsteps proved Sam was still there. She zipped the travelling bag and dragged it off the bed to dump at her feet. After last night, she hadn’t wanted to ask Nevada to drive her to the airport. Swallowing through a dry throat, she blinked.
The last twelve hours had been an eye opener for her. Going up to her father’s room for the first time since she’d come home, she’d seen the pictures of generations of Jaydens’ who had handed the ranch down until it reached her father. Was she going to fail her family?
Amy couldn’t answer that just yet. She called Diaz to inform him she was ready.
Slipping her phone away, she picked up her bag and walked over to give Sam a hug.
“You don't intend to honor your father's wish?” Amy didn't give her an answer because she wasn’t sure how to go about doing that just yet. She hugged Sam closer. “I'll give you a call.” And she was gone, dragging the bag behind her.
Diaz took it from her and put it in the truck bed.
“Do you know where Nevada is?” she asked Diaz.
“Not sure, he headed towards the back of the house,” he said, pointing.
The young man seemed to squirm.
She needed to see Nevada, even if she'd end up fidgeting too but she needed to clear the air between them. “I’m sorry for keeping you from your work. I'll be right back.”
She walked in the direction of the barn, careful not to draw attention until she reached him.
“You shouldn't sneak up on people like that.” His voice caused the heat to burst in her and spread into her face. She had not even noticed him. She stuttered an apology, her rehearsed speech taking flight from her scrambled thoughts.
He walked out from the dark interior of the barn and then lounged nonchalantly at the door. “You needed something?” he asked, his eyebrows rose.
“Um, y-yes.” She couldn't articulate her words. He didn't look hostile like she'd expected. Taking in the man before her in his cowboy boots and Wranglers, the times he'd held her because she was upset flashed before her eyes and she blushed furiously. “About yesterday. Um...I came to explain what I meant.”
He stared at her, his eyes hopeful. “I...am not sure what to do just yet until I get to work. But, if I end up deciding not to come back, I’m sure you don’t want...” she stammered to a halt.
The lopsided smile he gave her did nothing to ease her regrets. “I get that, Amy.”
She searched his face. “It’s got nothing to do with you.”
“Thanks for letting me know.”
She hesitated, then smiled. “I'm leaving.” He only nodded, not moving from his place at the door. She should turn and let him be.
He left his place at the door and walked toward her, stopping shy of a few inches. “Can we talk?”
She hesitated briefly and then nodded. He led her to the stack of hay and gestured for her to sit. She noticed the distance he kept between them. “Before you say anything, can I ask a question?” Salvaging her ego, huh?
“Ask anything.”
“I know I’ve given you a hard time since I came back, yet, you treated me well. Whatever happens from here on out, can we stay friends?”
“Yes.” His response was so soft she was sure she imagined it, but it stood in his eyes.
His finger drew small circles on her hand, each causing a welling inside her. She felt for this cowboy what she felt for no one before. But her life wasn’t here.
“I’d really like to be more than a friend.” He grinned. “But friendship is a good place to start.”
Maybe he felt he'd said too much, because he let go of her hand and stood. She waited but he didn't say anything else.
She left the barn and walked away, without a backward glance. If she looked at him one more time, she’d be tempted to stay.
Nevada had opened his heart to her, even though he obviously held back.
Her heart was content.
Chapter Twenty
NEVADA WATCHED HER walk away taking a part of him with her. His tone had come off harder than he'd have wanted because of the way his heart had reacted when he sensed her. Nevada had to rein in his defenses. He’d wanted to talk with her last night but she was nowhere to be found. Hanging around the kitchen late didn't improve his chances. Sometime around midnight he'd gone off to bed.
He'd have driven her if she'd asked but she didn’t. Maybe the drive would have been awkward for both of them. Shrugging, he walked out of the barn. He couldn't even remember why he was here, and then it dawned on him that he'd come out here hoping she'd come find him.
Standing there and chewing her lip, he’d seen how vulnerable she was. If anything, he found himself tumbling deeper into whatever he'd been free falling into since he set eyes on her that first day. Another thought struck him; she had come to apologize even when she wasn't sure what his response would be.
He couldn't stay angry with her for long.
IT HAD BEEN TWO WEEKS since she left Water Hole Ranch.
Eric didn’t plan to give her any more time away. How was she going to fulfil her father’s wish? What would happen to everyone on the ranch if it got sold and the money given to charity?
It wasn’t fair to them.
Amy reread her resignation. Not much choice otherwise. At the expiration of the three months, she’d sell off and find another job. But she owed her father, Sam, and the ranch hands that much. She was burning her proverbial bridge.
In all sincerity the city had lost its glow for her and that desire had been replaced by that for the ranch and a certain ranch hand. She'd have to earn her place at the ranch. Was he still interested in being more than her friend? It hurt a bit that in the two weeks she'd been away, he hadn’t called her once.
Who says you couldn’t have called too?
As she dropped her bag into the rental car, she remembered another day like this weeks ago. She’d made the same trip except that in this one, the car couldn't go fast enough.
She hardly paid attention to the scenery as she drove towards the ranch. As she neared, her breath hitched a notch higher, her belly doing flips.
She hadn’t given herself opportunity to explore what she felt about the ranch or Nevada except that she was going to give herself a chance to see if she could love the land again. Being tied to the land may not be so bad after all.
AMY WAS HOME. HE’D missed her. He hadn’t spoken with her in the two weeks since she’d left, because he didn’t want her to feel pressured. But she had occupied his every waking moment and the last thing he thought about before he dropped off to sleep.
He’d prayed for her to find happiness. Was she happy? Nevada hadn't felt such an overwhelming pull toward any woman as he felt for her—not even with Brooke and he wasn’t quite sure what to do.
Maybe he'd do nothing.
Was she planning to stay? The bag she brought was much bigger than the one she came with the last time. Dared he hope?
Nevada went to the barn to feed the horses. Now that calving was over, they were down a few hands. After that, he’d go riding.
Hopefully, it would clear the web in his head. Seeing Amy probably had something to do with it.
One look at her enthusiastic smile had made his heart leap and close in its wake was the urge to hug her. She looked as though she was happy to be home.
Except that they’d greeted each other like awkward teenagers. She wanted friendship and Nevada told himself he should keep his distance from the curvy redhead whose elegant height reminded him of a gazelle and her constant blushing sent his pulse racing and his blood pressure sky high.
But how could he, when in the last two weeks it was as if she hadn't gone away, for how much she was lodged in his thoughts.
He fed the horses, whispering soft words to them. He went to Black Knight's stall. Nevada hadn’t walked the horse in days. “Hey buddy boy, you up for a ride this morning?”
The horse snorted in response nuzzling the hand that rubbed between his eyes. Nevada allowed the horse to eat while
he cleaned out the stalls, something to keep him occupied.
Work helped to ease his mind when he was worried about something. He shoveled and packed the dirt in the wheelbarrow, then made a trip to the spot where he emptied it for Sam's vegetable garden.
He returned back repeatedly until he’d finished cleaning.
The ranch would soon be stirring and he best get his riding out of the way before the day's chores.
He led the black horse out of the stall and came face to face with Amy. The now familiar cartwheel in his gut started but Nevada told himself sternly she was a no go. There was just that possibility she would fulfil her three months and be gone again.
“Good morning,” she said giving him a smile.
“Good morning. You’re up early. “
“Yeah, I just wanted to walk around a bit.” Her gaze took in the area.
His heart was hopeful. “Yes.”
She returned her eyes to his. “You are doing a great job with the place.”
His heart soared. He wanted her to appreciate what he saw and did with the land. “Thank you,” he said, meaning it.
An awkward moment passed when they didn't seem to know what to say to each other. Amy recovered first. “Are you going riding?”
“Yes, you want to come?”
“You want company?” she asked.
“That's if you want. It's no big deal.”
She chewed her lip, uncertain. The day he’d taken her riding after her dad’s funeral flashed in his mind’s eye. “Amy, you don't have to if you don't want.”
“I want to.”
Ignoring the fluttering in his chest, he handed over the reins of Black Knight. “Here, hold this, let me get Spicy.” He went into the barn and soon returned with another horse, a replica of the one whose reins were in her hand. “He's her sire, but they are no way alike. She's gentle. You shouldn't have any problems.”
He set a saddle on the horse.
